Tape dispenser



Feb. 8, 1938. Ac ET AL 2,107,487

TAPE DISPENSER Filed Nov. 16, 1936 HM [n "1/111 l/ I III 7'760 Macj a $6 F/ ec/ Mar/op Patented Feb. .8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- anus: ,"rara DISPENSER Fred Machete and Fred Mason, Lansdale, Pa. Application November 10, 1936, Serial No. 111,153

scum. (01. 104-36) This invention relates to a roll strip dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a container for accommodating a plurality of strip rolls and a cutter for severing desired lengths of material from individual rolls.

An object of the invention is to provide a container for aplurality of axially aligned rolls of strip material and a movable cutter blade mounted in the container and adapted to be centered 1 relative to the surface of any individual roll surface,

Another-objector theinvention is to provide apparatus of the character designated having an improved cutter mechanism and mounting therefor. I

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated having a removable unitary supporting axle for a plurality of rolls of adhesive tape and spacer members of non-adhesive material between adjacent apparatus of the character'designated in which the individual rolls are positioned on a supporting axle in spaced relation to cutter positioning mechanism on the cutter support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing cabinet for adhesive tapewhich is simple and rugged in construction and, more emcient and serviceable in operation ,than similar apparatus heretofore proposed for dispensing severed strips from a plurality of rolls;

These and other objects of the invention will be more manifest from the following specification and drawing and more particularly set forth in the claims. p

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front'view in elevation of a roll strip dispensing device embodying our invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view in elevation on line 2-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the cutter blade and retainer therefor'shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a rear view in elevation of the cutterblade and mounting shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the roll shaft support and individual roll markings thereon. a I

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing,

there is shown a roll strip dispensing device constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, The device contemplates a cabinet container l0 including a shaft ll adapted to support a plurality of individual rolls of adhesive tape of different widths as indicated by the numerals l2, I3 and II, for example. Each roll is placed on the axle support H in accordance with space designations l2, l3 and H shown in Figure 5, wherein l2 indicates space for a roll of two inch tape, ii for one-half inch tape and H for oneinch tape, respectively. The cabinet Ill is diagonally divided so that ample access may be had ,to the rolls in the container and the division is eflected by a hinged lid member having top and side members, I! and I6 respectively, and diagonal end members II -l1. The lid is hinged by members lB-IB each including a spring I! having snap action so as to hold the lid in elevated position, or in the closed position as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2.

An important feature of the present invention is the. provision of a movable cutter blade 20 mounted in the front portion of the cabinet and extending vertically adjacent the periphery of the rolls. The blade is provided with a V shaped cutting edge, a point 2| of which is adapted to engage the median or middle portion of a strip and sever outwardly as the material is pulled downwardly across the blade. The blade 20 is mounted on a square shaft 22 by a rectangular guide member 23 whichis adapted to rigidly hold the blade in upright position during any severing operation, Fig. 3. v

Another feature of the V shaped knife is that the blade edge is beveled on the inside as indicated by the numeral 2|. This bevel is adjacent to the roll surface in order that a straight cross cut or severance of the strip shall be effected when the strip is pulled into engagement with the blade.

In order to properly position the blade with its point 2| at the median portion of each roll, the support shaft 22 is provided with notches or depressions l2", II" and I 4" spaced to correspond with the respective markings I2, l3, and It on the roll supporting axle, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, for example. These depressions are engaged by a slide latch ball member 24 and a leaf spring retainer member 25 as shown in Fig. 3. The cutter blade 2|! is provided with a suitable handle portion 28 which projects outside the cabinet and is' readily accessible.

The axle support II is removably supported in the cabinet end portions by a bearing portion 21,

. particular importance in that it provides a ready An important feature of the present invention is the. rigid vertical mounting of the blade 20 relative to the surface of a roll and the simple manner in which the severin'g operation may he carried out as illustrated in Figure 2. It will be observed that as a strip 3| is severed from the roll I 4 for example, there remains a top or loose portion 32 remainingbetween the cutter blade and the roll body. This remaining tab 32 is of means to pull more tape from the roll in a rapid and convenient manner. Tabs 33 and 34. indicate end portions of adjacent rolls and the accessible mannerv inwhich the tabs remain after severing. p

' The provision of markings on the roll support H to designate the order of assembling the strip rolls thereon, and the corresponding notch means for positioning the cutter relative to a designated roll, insures that the point 2| 0! the cutter blade will always be positioned at the center or median use.

portion of the particular tape strip; The present arrangement also enables a, person to grasp a tab and draw tape from. the roll and sever it with the use of one hand and with a single movement, leaving the other hand free for any other A dispenser of this type is particularly desirable in hospitals or 'dispensaries where tapes of different sizes or widths must be kept available in 'a-convenient and sanitary condition.

Another feature of the presentinventionis the provision of separator sheets 35-35 positioned between adjacent rolls to prevent the same from sticking together. The sheets are preferably of non-adherent wax material.

While we have shown the blade support as a square rod 22, it is obvious that this maybe of any configuration to properly guide the blade 20 and hold it with the desired rigidity during a-severing operation. Whichever form is em-: ployed, it is commensurate in length with the roll axle II and is securely attached to the stationary cabinet diagonal end members l'|'l|' by any convenient means such as screws 36-48. Having thus fully described our said invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v a

'1. Apparatus for dispensing roll strip material comprising in combination, an axle support for receiving a plurality of rolls of different widths, means on the axle support for indicating the position at which each roll shall be assembled thereon, a cutter member movable relative to said rolls, and means for locating and holding the cutter at the median portion of each individual roll on the support whereby a strip may be severed therefrom.

'2. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 in which the cutter comprises an inverted Vshaped vertical blade, and means for positively holding the point of the blade adjacent to the median point of. a roll strip. v

3. Apparatus of the character, described in claim 1 in which thecutter is slidably mounted on an angular shaped rod positioned in front of the rolls and coextensive in length with the roll axle support, and. indentations on the rod for positively positioning the cutter adjacent the roll strip to be severed.

4. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 including, a support for the movable cutter, means on the support for indicating the position of each roll thereon, said indicating means corresponding in location to means on the cutter support for centering and positioning the cutter blade adjacent a roll.

5. In an adhesive roll strip dispensing cabinet, the combination of an axle support for a plurality of rolls of adhesive tape, a slidably mounted cutting device having a vertically disposed inverted V shaped cutter blade mounted in front of the cabinet, an angular shaped rod for supporting the blade in rigid cutting relation tothe rolls, and latch means carried by the cutter and cooperating with indentations in the rod support for positioning the point of the blade adjacent the center of each roll strip to be severed.

6. Apparatus of the character described in claim-Sin which the cutting device is provided with a handle extending outside the cabinet walls.

7. In a cabinet for housing and dispensing roll strip material, the combination of a removable ignationson said axle for positioning the rolls in '7 a predetermined order, a movable cutter blade located in the front of the cabinet for severing strips from a roll, a cutter support coextensive with said axle, spaced designations on said outter support corresponding to those on said axle, whereby the cutter blade shall be positioned and held adjacent to the median portion of a, roll strip,and a lid closure member for enclosing the rolls and the cutter blade member.

8. In an'adhesive tape dispensing cabinet, a removable axle support for receiving a plural-.- ity of rolls of different widths, means on the axle support for indicating the positon at which each roll shall be assembled thereon, a vertically disposed inverted V-shaped knife slidably'mounted for movement adjacent to the peripheral surface of each roll, said knife having 'a bevelled edge adjacent to the roll surface,

whereby the roll strip shall be severed with a straight out when pulled into contact with said blade, and means for locating and holding the cutter blade at the median portion of each individual roll on the support.

9. In an adhesive roll strip dispensing device shaped knife slidably mounted for movement adjacent to the front portion of each roll, said knife having a bevelled edge adjacent to the tape roll surface, whereby the roll strip shall be severed with a straight out when pulled into contact with said blade, and means for locating and holding the cutter blade atthe median portion 2 of each individual'roll on the support, and a lid including top and front wall portions for enclosing the rolls and the is not in use,

FRED MACHA'I'E. FRED MASON.

knife when the cabinet 

